For a select few, those who have rocked hard enough and importantly enough over the span of their career are honored with immortality in Cleveland – that being the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, of course.
Videos by American Songwriter
For a select few, those who have rocked hard enough and importantly enough over the span of their career are honored with immortality in Cleveland – that being the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, of course. 2009’s inductees were announced and this year’s class is lead by Metallica, Run-DMC, Jeff Beck, and Little Anthony and the Imperials.
“We are beyond proud to let you know that we will indeed be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” Metallica stated on their website. For Metallica, their induction comes exactly 25 years after the release of their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, in 1984. This is the minimum time required to be eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Others, such as 1950s R&B group Little Anthony and the Imperials, had to wait a bit longer for their recognition.
“It’s been long overdue,” founding member Clarence Collins told Rolling Stone magazine, “but better late than never.”
The induction ceremony, to be held April 4, 2009 at Public Hall in Cleveland, OH, will actually be the second ceremony for Jeff Beck. Beck was honored as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992 but will receive the honor this time around for his solo career.
Run-DMC will become just the second rap group to be inducted. Their 1986 collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way” is viewed as one of the first rock-rap hybrids that spawned an entire genre. Could there possibly be a performance of the classic hit? Only time will tell, but their performance at the induction ceremony will mark the rap group’s first since founding member Jam Master Jay was murdered seven years ago in New York.
Others to be inducted this year are soul singer Bobby Womack, rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson, bassist Bill Black, drummer D.J. Fontana and pianist Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham. The ceremony will be broadcast on Fuse TV.
Viva los jeff Buckley yayayay!!!!!!!!